MAYMESTER 2027
Course Catalog Maymester 2027 May 25 - June 8, 2027
MAYMESTER 2027: NOTES ON PRICING All prices listed in this booklet are estimates. For programs that require air travel, estimates are based on airfare quotes at the time of printing and may change. The refectory will provide lunches for students remaining on campus for all or part of the program. The following travel programs will include most meals: Alaska: Outdoor Science School Borderlands Coastal Ecology in the Chesapeake Bay and the Florida Keys NA in France NA in Germany NA in Peru NA in Spain New York City: Coding, Collaboration, and Culture Yellowstone: Wildlife Conservation Other travel programs will not be all-inclusive and will require students to travel with money for some meals. Program coordinators will communicate these specific requirements prior to travel. Program Coordinators may have guidance concerning pocket money for souvenirs or shopping. These expenses, however, are completely discretionary. Precise costs will be made available once admissions decisions are communicated.
Experiencing farm work and doing good: Students harvested onions for a food pantry in Las Cruces that provides food to those in need. The farmer gives all of his crops to support the hungry—no profits are made.
NORFOLK ACADEMY MAYMESTER 2027 Each May, sophomores and juniors will embark on experiential learning opportunities locally, nationally, and abroad. Maymester programming includes leadership and career training, reciprocal exchanges, and cross-curricular courses designed by Upper School faculty and partner organizations. These immersive offerings introduce students to academic content, before providing immersive projects and learning experiences, with time for reflection and growth. Our aim is to prepare our students to be engaged global citizens. Maymester gives students the opportunity to explore the world and their place in it. Upper School students heard about their Maymester options on Thursday, October 29th. Students will rank each of the local programs and then have the opportunity to rank overnight travel programs if they are interested. Norfolk Academy will make every effort to place students in a topranked course, but we guarantee any placements.
cannot
Applications will be due by Friday, November 13th, at 3:30 p.m. The application will require you to provide the following: One essay response that addresses your specific interests An additional essay for juniors reflecting on their 10th grade experience Name of a teacher/coach who would be willing to speak favorably on your behalf (Note: You do not need to supply a formal recommendation letter at this time, just the name of a potential recommender.)
We will make every effort to communicate final decisions in early to mid-January. Please feel free to reach out to Taylor Winn, Jack Gibson, or a specific Program Coordinator with questions.
KEY
The following symbols will be used throughout the course book to provide you with more information about important considerations and expectations for each course.
AIR TRAVEL This course requires air travel.
ACTIVITY LEVEL This course includes rugged travel. Camping, hiking, or other physically demanding activities will be involved.
LANGUAGE PREREQUISITE Enrollment in one of our world languages is required for participation.
OVERNIGHT TRAVEL This course will require overnight travel. Dates of travel are included. We have a policy of no deviations from the travel itinerary. Students must depart and return with the group, and they must participate in daily group activities.
Fynn '28 makes his own mini-protest sign in VA MOCA's ARTLab
LOCAL COURSES Internships: Exploring What You Want to Be When You Grow Up Simulation & Gaming STEAM Odyssey
INTERNSHIPS: EXPLORING WHAT YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP
From resume writing and interviewing skills to aligning your career with a sense of purpose, this program is designed to introduce students to the world of professional work. Through guest speakers, alumni panels, and possibly a fun field trip, we hope to highlight a variety of professional paths to inspire students to think about who and what they want to be when they grow up. Students will spend one week participating in internships sponsored by friends of Norfolk Academy in fields such as medicine, law, business, education, and communications. Additional fields are also possible based upon student interest. We also hope to offer lessons in “adulting 101” as time allows. Students are expected to provide transportation to and from their internship. Additionally, students cannot miss time during the internship portion of the program (tentatively scheduled for weekdays beginning Thursday, May 27 and concluding on Thursday, June 3).
PROGRAM COORDINATORS: CHARLOTTE ZITO
PROGRAM FEE:
THERE IS NO COST ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROGRAM
SIMULATION & GAMING
In this Maymester course, students will explore the field of simulation and gaming (S&G) by working alongside industry professionals and researchers in modeling and simulation, as well as game design and development. With a focus on service learning, students will adopt game design industry roles, working in teams to deliver their product to a client: Old Dominion University’s Virginia Modeling and Simulation Center, specifically the Virginia Digital Maritime Center. Students will gain a comprehensive view of the maritime industry by touring local ships and shipyards and interviewing stakeholders. They will translate this knowledge into a design plan for a tabletop game system that will be tested and evaluated for the client. Along the way, students will learn about S&G degree programs, esports scholarship opportunities, as well as academic and industry practices, putting this knowledge to use in a local community that is thoroughly intertwined with the maritime industry.
PROGRAM COORDINATORS: MEGAN MCKITTRICK
PROGRAM FEE:
THERE IS NO COST ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROGRAM
STEAM ODYSSEY STEAM Odyssey takes science, technology, engineering, arts, and math out of the classroom and into the field. Over ten days, students travel to leading aerospace and research sites across Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C. Places under consideration include the National Air and Space Museum, Jefferson Lab, NASA Langley, NASA Wallops Flight Facility and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Students use each site to explore a different discipline in practice: physics, materials engineering, data science, earth science, and biology, not space alone. Students will pursue hands-on investigation throughout the course, applying lessons from each site along the way. Alongside this work, students explore the literature and writing that space exploration has inspired, and they keep a reflective journal that turns what they see and learn at each site into their own writing. The program closes with a presentation explaining their work and results. STEAM Odyssey is intended for any student curious about how things are actually designed, tested, built, and described, and it offers a firsthand look at a wide range of STEM careers and ways of thinking.
PROGRAM COORDINATOR: VICTORIA TABIBI
PROGRAM FEE:
THERE IS NO COST ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROGRAM
Florida Keys, May 2026
OVERNIGHT TRAVEL PROGRAMS Alaska: Outdoor Science School American Revolutionary Expressions: Art, Literature, and the Founding Freedoms The Archaeology of Greece and the Making of a Modern European State Borderlands The Civil War: America’s Second Fight for Freedom Coastal Ecology in the Chesapeake Bay and the Florida Keys NA in France NA in Germany NA in Peru NA in Spain New York City: Coding, Collaboration, and Culture Poverty in America Yellowstone: Wildlife Conservation
ALASKA: OUTDOOR SCIENCE SCHOOL
At AOSS, Norfolk Academy students will blend traditional learning with realworld exploration. We will walk on glaciers, hold ice from melting streams, and study rivers and forests teeming with wildlife. These firsthand experiences transform abstract concepts into meaningful understanding, making learning
Overnight Travel May 25 - June 3
memorable, engaging, and fun. Nestled at the end of North America’s longest glacial fjord, Haines is known as the Valley of the Eagles and the Adventure Capital of Alaska. Surrounded by glaciers, mountains, and rivers that support all five species of wild Pacific salmon, the area is home to abundant wildlife—from bald eagles and moose to humpback whales and brown bears. Its dramatic landscapes and dynamic geology provide a unique living laboratory for climate study, ecology, and sustainability. Students also gain insights into the Tlingit people and their village of Klukwan, where Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) links nature, culture, and history. This connection helps students understand how humans interact with the environment and the importance of living in harmony with natural rhythms. Whether hiking glaciers, observing wildlife, or exploring cultural traditions, the AOSS experience engages students in ways that ignite curiosity, deepen understanding, and inspire lifelong stewardship of the planet.
PROGRAM COORDINATOR: KEVIN DENSON
PROGRAM FEE: $5,500
Overnight Travel May 31 - June 4
AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY EXPRESSIONS: ART, LITERATURE, AND THE FOUNDING FREEDOMS What do cheesesteaks, soft pretzels, and powdered wigs have in common? They all have ties to Philadelphia where both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were signed. Celebrate America’s 250-year-old democracy on this academic adventure that links one “birthplace of America” with another. From Hampton Roads to Philly, this dynamic and immersive experience demonstrates how art, literature, history, and civic engagement powerfully connect our past to your future. Develop a deeper understanding of how the founding freedoms are at work… and at risk. Experience the evolution of what has been called “the American experiment” as you journey through Hampton Roads and Philadelphia’s Old City, tracing the footsteps of the Founders through a contemporary lens. We will ask and answer questions such as what ideals—and backroom deals—drove the founding of our country? How do the founding documents continue to shape and define who we are as Americans? And how do today’s realities align with and diverge from the intentions of the founding fathers? And we will do it through the lenses of art and literature where history leaps from the pages and into vivid, real-world experiences. We begin right here on the “soil of rebellion” with Jamestown-Yorktown, NA’s Coastal Research Campus, Chrysler Museum, and the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art (VA MOCA). Then we travel by bus to Philadelphia, “the cradle of liberty,” where the Museum of the American Revolution, National Constitution Center, Eastern State Penitentiary, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art paint a fuller picture of our nation’s narrative. All of these rich repositories come alive as primary sources and inspiration for your own creative writing and artmaking as you reflect on the power of words and ideas, then and now. Philadelphia's Mural Arts program, a stunning outdoor urban gallery and the oldest in the country, similarly reveals how art can document history and inspire change. Connect with history, discover your vision and voice, and become part of an ongoing story here at home and in the City of Brotherly Love.
PROGRAM COORDINATOR: BETSY DIJULIO
PROGRAM FEE: $1,500
THE ARCHAEOLOGY OF GREECE AND THE MAKING OF A MODERN EUROPEAN STATE The primary objectives of this course are to engage students in historical & archaeological research in Greece
Overnight Travel May 25- June 6
and to explore how antiquity has been mobilized to create an identity for the modern Greek state. Students will experience the archaeology of Greece firsthand: learning alongside
active
archaeological
excavations,
meeting
world-leading experts, and receiving in-depth behind-thescenes tours of sites and museums. Particular emphasis will be placed on how archaeologists and historians study and present their data to create compelling stories about the ancient world, conserving and presenting artifacts, curating museum
exhibitions,
and
more.
Throughout
this
course
students will also be exposed to the richness of modern Greek culture, experiencing its fantastic cuisine, warm community, and beautiful landscapes while also engaging with more complicated themes like economic instability and geopolitical tensions.
PROGRAM COORDINATOR: ERIC ACRA
PROGRAM FEE: $5,280
Overnight Travel May 28 - June 3
BORDERLANDS
The Southwest border is one of the most unique and significant regions in the United States. It separates the United States from Mexico, running many miles through cities and towns, across desolate stretches of desert, and along the Rio Grande river. The border region is at the center of global trade and immigration, a place where the mingling of Mexican, American, and Indigenous traditions has formed a unique Borderland culture that promotes inventiveness, resilience, and community. What is it like to live in in the borderlands of El Paso, Texas, and Las Cruces, New Mexico? On this Maymester adventure, students will learn about the challenges, advantages, and opportunities of this region. They will have the opportunity to explore topics such as: the dynamic history of the border, its indigenous roots, Spanish colonization, Latino-American heritage, the old American West, global trade, and migration. Students will experience the desert-mountain geography of El Paso, Texas and Las Cruces, New Mexico, as well as the distinct culture that has developed there. The local dynamics of the border region tell a more intricate story of immigration than what is often portrayed in the national debate, and students will learn about that too. They will gain insight into the ways that citizens, government, and non-profit agencies work together to create a diverse culture, solve complex issues, and adapt to changing policies involving the nation's southern border. Past activities have included attending immigration proceedings in U.S. District Court, meeting migrant families, exploring the region’s culture through local museums, discovering White Sands National Park, and enjoying local food.
PROGRAM COORDINATOR: HUNTER GIBSON
PROGRAM FEE: $3,900
Overnight Travel June 1 - June 4
THE CIVIL WAR: AMERICA’S SECOND FIGHT FOR FREEDOM This course is designed to give students an experiential education of the Civil War and its context in American history. Through travel to Civil War battlefields including Manassas, Antietam, Gettysburg, and Petersburg, as well as day trips to sites relevant to the Civil War such as Fort Monroe, students will experience what it meant to live during the Civil War and why and how the bloodiest war in American history was fought. Students will also research a particular topic in the Civil War which they will present to the group on-site during the travel portion of our class.
PROGRAM COORDINATOR: JOHN LINDBECK
PROGRAM FEE: $750
COASTAL ECOLOGY IN THE CHESAPEAKE BAY AND THE FLORIDA KEYS The Coastal Ecology Maymester this year will look at an immersive exploration of coastal ecosystems, focusing on the dynamic interactions between flora, fauna, and their impact on the local ecosystem. Students will explore two distinct and ecologically rich regions — the Chesapeake Bay and the Florida Keys — to study how living organisms shape and sustain coastal habitats. During the first part of Maymester, working with VIMS, students will investigate the Chesapeake Bay, examining the roles of marsh grasses, oysters, blue crabs, and submerged aquatic vegetation in maintaining water quality, nutrient cycling, and shoreline stability. Field activities include water sampling, biodiversity surveys, and ecosystem health assessments. We will also spend two days with local architecture firms WPA and Hanbury discussing the impact of urban building on our coastal ecologies here in Hampton Roads . In the second week, the course moves south to the Florida Keys to explore tropical marine environments, including coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass beds. Students will study coral-algal symbiosis, fish community dynamics, and the ecological importance of mangrove forests in supporting coastal resilience and biodiversity. Throughout the program, students will engage in hands-on field research, data collection, and ecological monitoring while discussing conservation challenges such as habitat loss, pollution, and climate change. The final project for this Maymester will be the creation of a scientific poster looking at a comparison on the ecosystems of the Chesapeake Bay and the Florida Keys.
PROGRAM COORDINATOR: JOHN CRAIG
Overnight Travel June 1 - June 5
PROGRAM FEE: $2,500
NA IN FRANCE Bonjour! As part of our long-standing exchange with Saint Dominique in Neuilly-surSeine (Paris), NA families will host students from Saint Dominique from March 29 - April 9, and NA students will travel to France from May 25 - June 6 during the Upper School’s Maymester.
Overnight Travel May 25 - June 6
…Et on y va! While in France, our Maymester group will begin our exploration in Normandy where we will walk the beaches on which Allied forces liberated western Europe from Nazi occupation, as well as see architectural wonders like the iconic medieval walled city, Mont Saint-Michel. Then our group will travel to metropolitan Paris, specifically Neuilly-sur-Seine, our homebase for the remainder of our time in France. Students will stay with a host family which affords them an opportunity to immerse themselves in French culture, and some in French language as well. During most days, our group will enjoy visiting sites around Paris together. There's even a food tasting tour! Our focus will be on the art and architecture of this capital city exploring wonders like Notre Dame, Eiffel Tower, and Le Louvre. Students will make lasting relationships with their host-families as well as unforgettable firsthand connections with significant people and artifacts that make French history and culture très magnifique!
PROGRAM COORDINATOR: WARREN WARSAW
PROGRAM FEE: $4,000
NA IN GERMANY
Overnight Travel May 25 - June 6
We are pleased to announce the 54th edition of our German Exchange with Copernicus-Gymnasium Löningen (CGL). NA families will be hosting students from CGL in Hampton Roads from March 12 - March 24, 2027. NA students will then travel to Germany from May 25 - June 6, 2027. During their time in Germany, students will live with a host family in Löningen, visit multiple sites in Northern Germany, and attend classes with their German counterparts—along with enjoying plenty of opportunities to practice their German skills.
German Language Students
This year, the exchange is open to 10th and 11th graders who are current German students. Students who are not current German students but are interested are welcome to express their interest on the Maymester application.
PROGRAM COORDINATOR: KELLY HAYNES
PROGRAM FEE: $4,000
NA IN PERU This opportunity to travel to the Sacred Valley of Peru
Overnight Travel May 27 - June 5
allows students to explore Peruvian history and culture through
our
work
with
the
Andean
Alliance
for
Sustainable Development (AASD). Through travel and host family stays, this program provides an authentic feel for the Andean culture and life. Not only will students have the opportunity to travel to Machu Picchu and spend time in the cradle of Inca Civilization, Cuzco, but they will also engage in various day trips and activities that allow them to internalize how Latin American History is translated and transformed in modern Peru.
PROGRAM COORDINATOR: GRAYSON BRYANT
PROGRAM FEE: $4,620
NA IN SPAIN
¡Bienvenidos a España! Spanish students are invited to experience two weeks of authentic Spanish living in beautiful Ronda, Spain. Perched dramatically above the Tajo River gorge, Ronda will captivate you with breathtaking views of the Andalusian countryside and the iconic Puente Nuevo bridge spanning the deep ravine. You'll explore the same cobblestone streets and Moorish palaces that inspired Rilke to call Ronda the "City of Dreams" and Hemingway to write For Whom the Bell Tolls. Your mornings will be spent exploring the city, participating in cultural activities, and hiking in the nearby sierra. Each afternoon, you'll attend personalized and leveled Spanish language classes with Mar and her incredible team of bilingual educators at Entrelenguas. You will stay with host families, affording you the opportunity to immerse yourselves even further in the language, cuisine, and culture of southern Spain. This learning experience includes a day trip to the Alhambra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its delicate latticed arches, intricate geometric carvings, and serene reflecting pools. We will complete our visit with two days in Spain's busting capital, Madrid, where you'll spot the famous Metrópolis Building, visit the bustling shops of Gran Vía, and explore the masterpieces inside the Prado Museum, all before an evening tapeando in the century-old taverns in La Latina. ¡Vas a pasarlo genial!
PROGRAM COORDINATOR: RACHEL THOMPSON
Overnight Travel May 25 - June 6
Spanish Language Students
PROGRAM FEE: $5,000
Overnight Travel June 1 - June 5
NEW YORK CITY: CODING, COLLABORATION, AND CULTURE Get ready for an unforgettable five-day, four-night experiential learning adventure in New York City! Students will make a meaningful impact by mentoring underserved youth at P.S. 55, Benjamin Franklin Elementary School, in the Bronx. Through hands-on educational activities and relationshipbuilding, they will inspire young learners to discover their potential through coding, and to explore exciting opportunities in STEM. This immersive servicelearning experience will foster leadership, empathy, teamwork, and a deeper understanding of educational equity. Beyond the classroom, students will tour innovative STEM companies, explore emerging technologies, and discover exciting career pathways. Teambuilding adventures include seeing The Outsiders on Broadway, tackling an escape room challenge, visiting the 9/11 Memorial, and rock climbing at a Brooklyn climbing center. Students will stay at Aloft Brooklyn, a modern hotel conveniently located near subway stations, restaurants, and some of New York City's most exciting attractions, the perfect home base for an unforgettable experience!
PROGRAM COORDINATOR: MIKE PFAFF
PROGRAM FEE: $1,500
Overnight Travel May 25 - May 28
POVERTY IN AMERICA: LIVING AT OR BELOW THE POVERTY LINE ON THE EASTERN SHORE OF VIRGINIA What is the experience of someone living at or below the poverty level? Through a series of classroom activities, guest speakers, and work days on the Eastern Shore, students will begin to understand the challenges faced as people work to support their families and maintain their livelihood. As part of this Maymester experience, students will travel to Exmore on the Eastern Shore to work with Habitat for Humanity. Our team will partner with the family for whom the house is being constructed, working side-by-side, to make a tangible impact on their lives. We will work on the Eastern Shore from May 25 - May 28, staying overnight for that week. The following week, we will take two day trips to finish our work! We will conclude our program with reflection on our experience.
PROGRAM COORDINATOR: MARY TODD GLASCOCK
PROGRAM FEE: $550
YELLOWSTONE: WILDLIFE CONSERVATION Yellowstone: Wildlife Conservation begins with a 7-day excursion to one of the more unique and iconic ecosystems this country has to offer, with students working to support professional researchers who partner with Ecology Project International. Students’ daily work includes tracking bison and other ungulates using radio telemetry, classifying herds by population metrics, and recording habitat variables. They may also survey amphibians, monitor visitor behavior around bearsafety, and assist with wolf observations alongside Park Service wolf biologists. They will leave with an understanding of how nature and its systems work, a knowledge of contemporary environmental issues, and the role humans can play in improving an ecosystem. While conducting field research and restoration, participants also engage in academic reflection, data analysis, and group discussions to understand ecological dynamics, conservation challenges, and management tradeoffs in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. They experience life in the field staying in a lodge, cooking family meals, and sharing in daily duties to build selflessness and confidence working in a field research setting. When we return home, we will apply the citizen science skills that were learned during our travels to study our local wetland ecosystems.
PROGRAM COORDINATOR: GARRETT BIRD
Overnight Travel May 29 - June 5
PROGRAM FEE: $3,900